Ambitious plans to redevelop town centre unveiled

Hsin-Yi Lo
BBC News, South East
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council An artist's impression of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council's vision for the town. It features a walk way, lined with trees, flowers and vegetation and people walking and cycling around the town centre.Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council
An artist's impression of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council's vision for the town

Ambitious plans to redevelop a Kent town centre have been unveiled.

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council said the plan outlined proposals to redevelop council-owned car parks near Sainsbury's and the Angel Centre, east of the High Street.

This includes building 122 new homes, a replacement leisure centre, a GP practice, improved walking routes, a hotel and a riverside park area.

Matt Boughton, leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, said the plans would provide "much-needed housing".

"Improved leisure and health facilities, commercial opportunities and creating an attractive recreation space along the river are avital parts of the vision being put forward," he added.

The council said the housing developments would have their own parking spaces.

Councillors agreed at a meeting on Monday to hold a public consultation this summer.

"Before any decisions are made, we need to know what the people of Tonbridge think and undertake further work to test the commercially viability of different elements of the scheme," Mr Boughton added.

The council said more details of its masterplan would be announced shortly.

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